Transmission for outboard motors



Oct. 21, 1941.

H. H. BLANKSHAIN TRANSMISSI'ON FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed March l0, 1959 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE `2 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to driving 'means for propellers of outboard motors and more particularly to an improved clutch for the same.

Asis well known, the present types of outboard motors have a direct drive between the engine and the propeller shaft and the pilot when operating this motor cannot stop the motion of the boatvwithout shutting off the motor to arrest rotation of the propeller. In other words, so long as the motor is in operation propulsion of the boat is attained and it is impossible to stop the'forward motion ofthe boat without shutting off the motor.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a means whereby rotation of the propeller of an outboard motor can be stopped without shutting off the driving means for the propeller.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a clutch means carried by the propeller shaft and adapted to be operated by the pilot of the boat to arrest rotation of the propeller without shutting off the power means for driving the propeller shaft.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing whichv forms a part of the application.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section View of a transmission housing of an outboard motor embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view with parts in elevation and taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, there is illustrated a transmission housing 5 of an outboard engine for boats supported by the engine, not shown, from which extends a drive shaft 6 supporting thereon a pinion gear 1 keyed to the shaft at 8. The shaft 6 also supports a bearing member 9 in abutting relation with the pinion gear 1 and held to said shaft by screw means I0.

The propeller shaft II driven gear I2, said gear being supported on the shaft and held against axial movement by meansl of a collar I3. 'Ihus it will be seen that the driving shaft 6 effects rotation of the propellershaft II through the medium of the gears 1 and I2, respectively. A clutch member I4 is splined to the propeller shaft by a pin I5 extending radially therethrough and is mounted for axial movement thereon. Referring more particularly supports thereon a to Figure 2 of the drawing, it will be noted that the clutch member I4 has formed therein on op posed walls an elongatedslot I6 with which the p in I5 has engagement for permitting limited axial movementof the clutch member. A tubular shaft I1 is rotatably mounted upon the reduced end I8 of the propeller shaft II, the propeller I9 being mounted on the former. The shaftV I1 has a slotted portion 20 communicating with' the end thereof for receiving a key 2| carried by the propeller, said propeller being secured to the shaft I1 by means of the nut 22, said nut being held on the outer end of the shaft II by means of the cotter key 23.

A plate .24 is removablyV supported onthe propeller side of 'the 'housing Vandis held thereon by means of bolts 25, and a portion 26 thereof forms a bearing surface for the tubular shaft I1 against which the hub 21 of the propeller engages. This construction is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing.

The tubular shaft I1 is formed with a collar 28 carrying clutch teeth 29 engageable with teeth 30 formed on the face of the clutch member I4. When the teeth are in engagement as shown in the drawing, rotation of the propeller shaft I I effects rotation of the tubular shaft I1 to drive the propeller I9. However, when the clutch member is disengaged from the teeth of the tubular shaft rotation of the propeller is arrested.

The means for causing engagement and disengagement of the clutch member is more clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing wherein it will be seen that an annular groove 3| is formed in the clutch member I4, in which is disposed an eccentrically mounted shaft 32 carried by a plug 33, which plug is supported within a side wall of the housing 5 by means of a collar 34, the exposed end of which supports a threaded cap and packing nut 35. A pin 36 projects from the plug 33 and through the packing nut 35 and has an arm 31 keyed thereto by a pin or the like 38. A member 39 projects outwardly from the arm 31 and is provided with a set screw or the like 40 to which is attached a control wire 4I extending upwardly and within the boat to which the motor is attached. Exerting an upward pull on the wire 4I will move the arm 31 upwardly which partially rotates the plug member 33 to cause the eccentrically mounted pin 32 to urge the axially movable clutch member I4 out of engagement with the clutch teeth of the tubular shaft I1. Upon releasing the wire 4I gravity will return the arm 31 to its normal horizontal position at which time the clutch member is in engagement with the teeth of the tubular shaft.

It is believed that the use and operation of the clutch member is readily apparent from the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. When desiring to arrest propulsion of the boat without shutting off the motor, the clutch i4 is disengaged in the manner above described whereby rotation of the propeller I9 is stopped occasioned by the fact that the tubular shaft to which the propeller I9 is keyed has been thrown out of engagement with the propeller shaft Il. As is to be understood the propeller shaft Il will continue to 1'0- tate so long as power is derived from the driving shaft 6 through the medium of the gears 'l and I2, respectively. Upon engaging the clutchY member with the teeth of the tubular shaft, the propeller will be again rotated thereby imparting motion to the boat.

Also it wil be understood, of course, by those skilled inthe art that variations inthe` hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents. for the devices describedl are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the inventionis-capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes-and modifica-tions may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor* exceed the scope thereof as expressed in theY appended claims.

What is claimed is:v

1. A'drivegear for outboard motors, comprising a vertically disposedv housing having'an opening in its upper end, a vertically disposed drive shaft mounted in a bearing Within the housing, a beveled gear carried by the shaft below the bearing, an enlarged passage arranged in the side wall of the housing, a removable bearing secured in said passage, a shaft passing through the bearing having an enlarged sleeve engaging the inner face of the bearing, a gear mounted on the inner end of the shaft and journaled in bearings carried by the housing and meshing with the beveled gear carried by the drive shaft, and a sliding clutch member mounted on the shaft and adapted to ntermesh with the enlarged sleeve, whereby the shaft is locked or unlocked from the drive shaft.

2. A drive gear for outboard motors, comprising a vertically disposed housing having an opening in its upper end, a vertically disposed drive shaft mounted in a bearing within the housing, a beveled gear carried by the shaft below the bearing, a horizontally disposed shaft mounted. in a bearing carried by one wall of the housing andwhaving a reduced portion, a-beveled gear carried by the shaft and meshing with the beveled gear carried by the drive shaft, the opposite wall of the housing'having an enlarged opening, a removable bearing secured in said opening, a sleeve vmounted in said bearing and surrounding the reduced portion of the shaft and having a sleeve surrounding the main portion of the shaft, teeth carried by said sleeve, and a sliding clutch member mounted on the main. por-- tion of the shaft and having teeth cao-operatingl With-the teeth carried by the sleeve.

HAROLD H. BLANKSHAIN. 

